Important Details for Purchasing Source Quartz

There is an increasing demand for quartz today especially as quartz is used as a crucial part of many of the components that are brought together to create smartphones and ipads. While quartz occurs naturally in the earth’s surface; certain logistics have lead to a better alternative which is not the actual, natural stone; but is ‘Sourcing Quartz.’

The complexity of the process to create this type of quartz along with the expensive and specialized equipment, along with relatively minor details such as the types of quartz blades, has led to the development of only a small number of good suppliers.

Differences Abound Between Various Manufacturers

Despite the overall process being the same; there are many variations in the consistency and quality as well as other important aspects of the quartz produced by different suppliers.

This variations in the final product from each producer affects the price we can expect to pay with the two main factors being the cost of certain raw materials and the exact manufacturing process the supplier uses.

The quartz silica crystals used can be a fine powder or as large as 3mm in diameter. The difference in the size will be reflected in the cost. There is a choice of other raw ingredients such as any catalysts needed, resins for binding, various pigments for the desired color as well as chemical ultraviolet light inhibitors.

The fundamental mixing of the raw ingredients combined with an exact manufacturing process will dictate a specific type of source quartz.

Quality of the Source Quartz

• The raw ingredients must be exactly proportioned and properly mixed and there can be different methods used for this part of the process.
• The vibro-compressor must be of high quality with constant and proper maintenance.
• The thermo-curing must also be extremely consistent regarding temperature and time.
• Surface roughness can only be determined by a laboratory analysis but this is still not a guarantee that the actual product will be the same as the tested sample.
• The supplying company must be produce a product that is very consistent and does not vary from batch to batch.
• The company must then also offer a ‘Specs’ sheet with all pertinent data for the product.
• Company must properly track each individual piece on paper or electronic documents matching the codes physically written on each piece.
• If the buyer’s order requires any cutting before delivery the quartz saw blades to be used should be included in the discussion of the purchase.
• The company must have a valid and proper track record when it comes to addresses complains or any discrepancies.

Certain ‘Certifications’ may be presented to a prospective buyer but most are out of date and offer nothing that guarantees the performance of the actual quartz product. A thorough investigation into the quality and the consistency of the source quartz material must be done be the buyer.

Marble Designed and Veined Quartz

The expanding niche market for marble designed quartz and veined quartz is putting more pressure on the manufacturer and the buyer as, well, there are more things that could go wrong and more details that have to be addressed.

The composition of these designs require extremely accurate measuring in the initial mixing process. Going by weight; a pure white source quartz should be 97% quartz and 7% of the resin compound.

Quartz with a translucent quality will be 85% quartz to 15% resin

The advent of these marble type designs has required an increase in the attention to detail of every aspect of the manufacturing process especially when it comes to the consistency when producing large quantities made up of different batches.

The shading of white and translucent source quartz will have very slight, but still discernible to the professional eye, differences. With veined quartz there is also the additional task of covering large areas in such a manner that when the pieces are but together there is cohesive look to the patterns of the veins between the adjoining pieces. The cuts made must be very smooth using high quality quartz blades and checking the often for any wear and tear.

With the availability of increasing designs and patterns and the ability of quartz to resist staining and a general wearing of the surface; more pressure is put on the manufacturers who may get sloppy or careless in an effort to produce greater quantities at a faster rate.

Therefore, great care must be taken when choosing a supplier.

A Quick Summation

For a business to compete and be as profitable as possible it must be understood what level of quality of source quartz is needed. Over paying for any material that is not really required is wasted money.

This also means that after you have made the purchase; damaging the product with inferior quartz saw blades is going to be you responsibility and your loss.

Once exact specifications are understood for the quartz material necessary for a business; then it comes down to putting in the time and energy to very, very carefully, choosing a supplier that will enable a long term and consistent supply of the exact source quartz product needed.